Round-by-round

See just how David Haye became only the second man to stop John Ruiz and retain his world title...

See how the Hayemaker stopped Ruiz in style

David Haye retained his world heavyweight title with a brutal battering of John Ruiz. In an explosive evening in Manchester the American challenger was put down four times before being spare from further punishment by his corner in the ninth round. It meant Haye became on the second man in 18 years to stop him and proved that the Brit is a heavyweight forced to be reckoned with. Here's how the drama at the MEN Arena unfolded... ROUND ONE:Ruiz comes marching forward from the bell and has Haye trapped on the ropes only for the champ to spring free and step clear. Then as they meet in the middle of the ring, the Hayemaker catches Ruiz flush and floors him with little more than 20 seconds gone. Ruiz's legs are gone and Haye is on him again, although he's over the ropes via a rabbit punch - and the knockdown is scratched on the cards. Ruiz is being hurt by Haye's jabs and the right is bursting through is guard but he somehow survives the round - and ends it with some afters!
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-8 Ruiz ROUND TWO: Ruiz's head seems to have cleared and he is back in this. He is not afraid to come forward though, but soon thinks again as they straight right - which has little backlift and is lightning-fast - rocks him again. He does catch Haye with a left and as yet we have not seen any combinations from the champion. A decent recovery from Ruiz but you get the feeling if Haye catches him again, it could mean the end.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-9 Ruiz ROUND THREE: Good start from Ruiz as three jabs back Haye up into the corner, although he wriggles free again. The Quiet Man skulks forward and has Haye missing with a wild left hook, but whenever he throws that Hayemaker it hits home. Ruiz takes one and his nose is bleeding but Haye is back on his heels, waiting for the opening to appear again. Haye's jab looks good and is keeping Ruiz back. Then a right and a left uppercut rock him again and get the crowd on their feet. Ruiz closes the round by leaping in behind his own jab but Haye is out of range before he can land. Good stuff, this!
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-9 Ruiz ROUND FOUR: Ruiz is at him again but Haye is out of range, shoulders hunched, eyes stalking his man at all times. He keeps Ruiz honest with a left uppercut that flashes past his chin and the champ then lands with the first left hook of any note he's thrown - so he does it again! Ruiz gets a right into the ribs in the corner and Haye falls into the ropes but again gets out - but he ships a couple of rights as Ruiz finally manages to close the gap. Haye is caught by five jabs and straights in a row and the challenger at least has a round on his card.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 9-10 Ruiz ROUND FIVE: Ruiz again comes out firing, a left right and then a decent right has Haye's head rocking, but the champ comes crashing back with a huge left and the straight right and only a couple of inches stop a left uppercut taking Ruiz off his feet. But he remains undaunted and comes back again, Haye suddenly looking a little lacklustre for the first time. Another wild uppercut is way off the mark but Haye soon backs off and gets the jab going. But as we knew he would, Ruiz keeps on coming. Then right on the bell a left jab is followed in a flash by that straight right and another right comes down on the back of the head. Ruiz takes his third count and the Hayemaker does the trick again.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-8 Ruiz ROUND SIX: Haye starts the round on the retreat, Ruiz walking him down, following him around the ring and a couple of jabs keeping the champ in check. But then as he lunges in a right stops him in his tracks and another sends him to his knees yet again, in a messy tangle on the ropes. Ruiz claims another rabbit punch but as soon as he's up, Haye flails away on the ropes, a swooping left and a shorter right causing real damage. Somehow though, the challenger is up and at him again. But jabs, rights and hooks to the body have left Ruiz blowing badly. He looks a beaten man, but you'll go a long way to finder a braver one.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-8 Ruiz ROUND SEVEN: Ruiz is sent out with "one more round" ringing in his ears, which seems a shame. But it hasn't changed much - although this time his advances are a little more cautious. Haye is happy to box off the jab, perhaps sensing the job is done, swaying out of the way of jabs, backing off before shifting momentum forward and pinging a right hand back with interest. Haye gets a right in but Ruiz slips a decent left under it and lands a right of his own, but his punches lack zip more and more.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-9 Ruiz ROUND EIGHT: Haye said he can KO him late in the fight, so let's see. He does sneak a right in early but for the first half of the fight, circles the ring, right hand cocked - and soon enough it lands again. Ruiz left eye has a swelling underneath and his face is a reddened mess, so the last thing he needs is a left hook to the chin. Then the mother of all rights lands flush and somehow Ruiz takes it, digs his heels in and sways without toppling to the canvas again. Haye can land that right at will and does it once more but you wouldn't begrudge him going the distance here.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-9 Ruiz ROUND NINE: Jab, jab, jab... Haye can't miss at the start of the round but Ruiz follows him around, head dipped, taking shots all the way. Haye is flicking back at him, we haven't seen a decent combination for a while. In his defence Haye knows the decision will be his but a left and another right rocks Ruiz into the ropes and before Haye can jump in the towel comes in and it's off! Ruiz corner have done the decent thing - and David Haye is still heavyweight champion of the world!
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Haye 10-9 Ruiz